Medicare’s Price-Negotiation List Expanded—See If Your Drug Made It

What Is Medicare’s Price-Negotiation Program?

Medicare’s price-negotiation program, established under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, empowers the federal government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of certain high-cost prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D.

The main goal of this initiative is to make essential medications more affordable for seniors while also reducing overall healthcare spending for the federal program. For decades, Medicare was prohibited from direct price negotiations with drug manufacturers, leaving millions of Americans exposed to rising prescription costs. Now, the new law gives Medicare leverage to secure fairer prices, improving access to lifesaving treatments and reducing financial strain on beneficiaries.

The Expanded Drug List: What’s New?

In 2024, Medicare announced an expanded list of drugs subject to price negotiations. The initial list, released in 2023, included ten widely used medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, and blood clot prevention.

The new expansion adds several more drugs, targeting those that have the highest spending and are commonly prescribed to Medicare beneficiaries. The expanded list now covers medications for cancer, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular issues, and more advanced diabetes treatments. These additions reflect Medicare’s commitment to addressing the most financially burdensome therapies affecting older Americans.

How Are Drugs Selected for Negotiation?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) selects drugs based on total Medicare spending, lack of generic or biosimilar competition, and clinical importance. Drugs that account for the highest costs to the Medicare program and have been on the market for several years without competition are prioritized.

This process ensures that negotiations focus on medications that will have the greatest financial impact for both the program and its beneficiaries. The selection method is transparent, data-driven, and designed to balance cost savings with continued innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.

Which Drugs Are on the Expanded List?

The expanded negotiation list includes several well-known medications, such as:

• Eliquis (apixaban) – blood thinner

• Jardiance (empagliflozin) – diabetes

• Enbrel (etanercept) – autoimmune diseases

• Imbruvica (ibrutinib) – cancer

• Xarelto (rivaroxaban) – blood thinner

• Stelara (ustekinumab) – psoriasis and Crohn’s disease

• Farxiga (dapagliflozin) – diabetes and heart failure

• Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) – heart failure

Additional drugs are expected to be added in the next phases of the negotiation program as Medicare expands its reach. For a complete and up-to-date list, visit the official Medicare website or consult your healthcare provider.

What Does This Mean for Medicare Beneficiaries?

If you take one of the drugs on the negotiation list, you could see noticeably lower out-of-pocket costs over the next few years. These price reductions won’t happen overnight, but they represent a meaningful step toward more affordable healthcare for millions of Americans. The first round of negotiated prices is expected to take effect in 2026, with additional waves of drugs being added to the program in the following years as Medicare gradually expands its reach.

For many beneficiaries—especially seniors managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, or cancer—the financial relief could be significant. Some of these treatments currently cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month. Once the negotiated rates take effect, patients may pay far less at the pharmacy counter, easing the ongoing financial burden that often forces people to skip doses or delay refills.

This initiative could also help narrow the so-called “donut hole” in Medicare Part D coverage—the gap where patients temporarily pay higher out-of-pocket costs once their drug spending reaches a certain threshold. By lowering the overall price of medications, beneficiaries may be able to stay out of that coverage gap longer, keeping their expenses more predictable throughout the year.

Beyond cost savings, another key benefit will be greater transparency. Medicare plans to publish detailed information about negotiated prices and how they change annually. This means patients, providers, and caregivers will have clearer insight into why drugs cost what they do and how federal policy is shaping affordability over time.

How to Check If Your Drug Is Included

If you’re wondering whether your medication is part of the negotiation list, there are several easy ways to find out. Start by visiting the official Medicare website (Medicare.gov), where the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regularly update the list of drugs selected for negotiation. The site includes brand names, generic equivalents, and details on when new pricing will take effect.

You can also contact your Medicare Part D plan provider directly. Representatives can explain how these upcoming changes might influence your coverage, copays, or deductible. Some plans may already be preparing to adjust their formularies or issue guidance for 2026 and beyond.

Additionally, your pharmacist or healthcare provider is a valuable source of information. They can tell you if your current prescriptions are expected to be impacted, recommend cost-saving alternatives, or guide you through financial assistance programs in the meantime.

Staying informed now will help you plan ahead—so there are no surprises when the new prices roll out. This initiative marks more than just a policy update; it’s a historic shift toward transparency, accountability, and affordability in the U.S. healthcare system. For the first time, Medicare beneficiaries may begin to see meaningful, measurable reductions in the cost of life-saving medications that have long been out of reach for many.